P
Passafist
Guest
The following isn't on the Topic of radio but may be of some interest to those in the Christian Media.
NBC's The Book of Daniel
A Review by Frank Welker, NYC
A sure-fire way to tick off a bunch of people all at the same time is to mess with their deeply held beliefs. To make them look like buffoons, and to stamp on their faith with equal measure. But the worst thing you can do in all the world is mess with Jesus. THE BOOK OF DANIEL NBC’s latest attempt to cash in on a little controversy is just that kind of show. Its designed to shock, and to make people really mad. Will it keep people watching, probably not.
Daniel Webster (Aidan Quinn) is an Episcopal Minister with a lot on his plate. His daughter sells drugs, his wife drinks a little to much, his sister in law is having a lesbian affair with her husbands secretary, his son is gay, and his Chinese adopted son is carrying on a sexual relationship with one of his most powerful congregant at his church. As the first episode opens Webster’s Brother in Law has just stolen 3 million dollars from the church’s new school building fund. So Webster enlists the help of a Catholic priest with mob connections to track him down. Oh yeah and one more thing Webster is best friends with Jesus.
But for all the controversy that this show has gotten it not a very good program. It clunks along trying to be a soap opera and a realistic drama all at the same time. It’s funny, the characters are quirky, but Webster is far too straight, caring, and real to inhabit this world of crazy people. It takes cheap shots and is blatantly crude for no reason. If the show is going to succeeded it needs to focus in on whether it wants to be a show about a man struggling to keep his family and church in line, or a Desperate Housewives clone.
The show has moments that are so spot on. I loved when Webster would interact with his family. I even liked how the family couldn’t get through one family dinner without some form of dysfunction popping out. I liked the concept of a priest juggling his family life with the concerns of his church and I liked how these scene felt honest. That part of this program was compelling.
What I didn’t like was the broad soapy comedy. The quirky sister-in-law is both obnoxious and annoying. But worse she pulls us out of the action and turns the show into a farce. It’s when the show reaches for broad comedy that it erases the honesty it’s built in the other scenes. My suggestion to the creative team is that if this is the direction you want the show to go, do it. Don’t sugar coat it with real honesty and understanding if your end result is only to offend. I think it was Saint Francis of Assisi who said “Sin Boldly.” If the Book of Daniel is to become a Religious farce make it that way and stop trying to tow the line.
At this point the honest moments feel like they are designed to give ths how some class. So TV Critics and Viewers can say here’s why you should watch. But I’d ask any viewer to compare the scene at the funeral with the scene in which Webster and his daughter are discussing her drug dealing. Do they belong in the same program? No.
As for the big hot potato the Webster talking to Jesus stuff doesn’t make sense. Except if this isn’t the real Jesus but just a figment of Webster’s imagination. Because the Jesus that’s scripted is so gimmicky and so under used I’d drop it from the show not because it’s particularly offensive but because it’s pointless. This Jesus spouts out greeting card platitudes instead of actual advice. Every discussion that the two men have is exactly the same, and the gimmick feels like more clutter than this show needs.
THE BOOK OF DANIEL needs to decide what kind of show it wants to be. One of those show I might even be interested in watching. But judging from the first episode it’s a mess of deep honesty and insipid farce. At this point its unwatchable. Had I not been instructed by my friend by my boss to watch it I probably would have given the show about 15 minutes of my time.
As it is I can only see THE BOOK OF DANIEL bite the dust just like past NBC religious blunders “GOD THE DEVIL AND BOB” and ABC’s “NOTHING SACRED.” This one isn’t bold enough, or compelling enough to keep viewers interested. Controversy may get someone to watch once but it won’t keep them watching.
NBC's The Book of Daniel
A Review by Frank Welker, NYC
A sure-fire way to tick off a bunch of people all at the same time is to mess with their deeply held beliefs. To make them look like buffoons, and to stamp on their faith with equal measure. But the worst thing you can do in all the world is mess with Jesus. THE BOOK OF DANIEL NBC’s latest attempt to cash in on a little controversy is just that kind of show. Its designed to shock, and to make people really mad. Will it keep people watching, probably not.
Daniel Webster (Aidan Quinn) is an Episcopal Minister with a lot on his plate. His daughter sells drugs, his wife drinks a little to much, his sister in law is having a lesbian affair with her husbands secretary, his son is gay, and his Chinese adopted son is carrying on a sexual relationship with one of his most powerful congregant at his church. As the first episode opens Webster’s Brother in Law has just stolen 3 million dollars from the church’s new school building fund. So Webster enlists the help of a Catholic priest with mob connections to track him down. Oh yeah and one more thing Webster is best friends with Jesus.
But for all the controversy that this show has gotten it not a very good program. It clunks along trying to be a soap opera and a realistic drama all at the same time. It’s funny, the characters are quirky, but Webster is far too straight, caring, and real to inhabit this world of crazy people. It takes cheap shots and is blatantly crude for no reason. If the show is going to succeeded it needs to focus in on whether it wants to be a show about a man struggling to keep his family and church in line, or a Desperate Housewives clone.
The show has moments that are so spot on. I loved when Webster would interact with his family. I even liked how the family couldn’t get through one family dinner without some form of dysfunction popping out. I liked the concept of a priest juggling his family life with the concerns of his church and I liked how these scene felt honest. That part of this program was compelling.
What I didn’t like was the broad soapy comedy. The quirky sister-in-law is both obnoxious and annoying. But worse she pulls us out of the action and turns the show into a farce. It’s when the show reaches for broad comedy that it erases the honesty it’s built in the other scenes. My suggestion to the creative team is that if this is the direction you want the show to go, do it. Don’t sugar coat it with real honesty and understanding if your end result is only to offend. I think it was Saint Francis of Assisi who said “Sin Boldly.” If the Book of Daniel is to become a Religious farce make it that way and stop trying to tow the line.
At this point the honest moments feel like they are designed to give ths how some class. So TV Critics and Viewers can say here’s why you should watch. But I’d ask any viewer to compare the scene at the funeral with the scene in which Webster and his daughter are discussing her drug dealing. Do they belong in the same program? No.
As for the big hot potato the Webster talking to Jesus stuff doesn’t make sense. Except if this isn’t the real Jesus but just a figment of Webster’s imagination. Because the Jesus that’s scripted is so gimmicky and so under used I’d drop it from the show not because it’s particularly offensive but because it’s pointless. This Jesus spouts out greeting card platitudes instead of actual advice. Every discussion that the two men have is exactly the same, and the gimmick feels like more clutter than this show needs.
THE BOOK OF DANIEL needs to decide what kind of show it wants to be. One of those show I might even be interested in watching. But judging from the first episode it’s a mess of deep honesty and insipid farce. At this point its unwatchable. Had I not been instructed by my friend by my boss to watch it I probably would have given the show about 15 minutes of my time.
As it is I can only see THE BOOK OF DANIEL bite the dust just like past NBC religious blunders “GOD THE DEVIL AND BOB” and ABC’s “NOTHING SACRED.” This one isn’t bold enough, or compelling enough to keep viewers interested. Controversy may get someone to watch once but it won’t keep them watching.